Bucks County man first in state to die from West Nile

An unidentified Bucks County resident is the first person in Pennsylvania to die from West Nile Virus in 2013, reports the state Department of Environmental Protection.

The deceased person was identified only as a male who contracted the virus on Aug. 20. Details about where in Bucks he lived were not provided Friday by spokesmen for the department's West Nile Control Program.

They reported mosquitoes testing positive for the disease were found in Bristol Township and the borough of Morrisville in southern Bucks County.

Mosquitoes carrying West Nile were found at a total of 34 locations in several other counties across the state during the latest round of testing.

They include North Whitehall Township in Lehigh County, Centre Township in Berks County and Pocono Township in Monroe County.

Seven humans in Pennsylvania, including the Bucks County man, have contracted the virus so far this year, according to DEP. Two cases were in York County, two in Delaware County, one in Montgomery County and one in Philadelphia County.

On Tuesday, the Berks County West Nile Program will be conducting an ultra-low volume control operation to reduce high populations of mosquitoes capable of transmitting West Nile Virus in parts of Exeter Township.